Energy Generation System

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0044344 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Apr. 1, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The present disclosure relates to an energy generation system, and more particularly, to an energy generation system capable of improving energy generation efficiency, stability, and reliability.

With the growth of population and the development of industry, the demand for fossil fuel is increasing, and the increase in demand for fossil fuel causes the problem of depletion of resources and the problem of increasing international prices of fossil fuel.

In addition, there is a growing movement to reduce the use of fossil fuel as it is recognized that fossil fuel causes global warming. Therefore, research is being conducted on renewable energy that utilizes solar energy, water, geothermal energy, and rain to generate energy.

Among other things, recently, the development has been conducted on fuel cell systems that produce electrical energy from an electrochemical reaction of fuel.

In general, the fuel cell system may include a fuel cell stack configured to generate electricity by means of a redox reaction between fuel (e.g., hydrogen) and oxidant (e.g., air), a fuel supply device configured to supply fuel (hydrogen) to the fuel cell stack, an air supply device configured to supply the fuel cell stack with air which is an oxidant required for an electrochemical reaction, and a thermal management system (TMS) configured to discharge reaction heat, which is generated from the fuel cell stack, to the outside of the system and control temperatures of the fuel cell stack.

Meanwhile, recently, various studies have been conducted to improve energy generation efficiency while minimizing a load of the fuel cell stack, but the study results are still insufficient. Accordingly, there is a need to develop a technology to improve energy generation efficiency while minimizing a load of the fuel cell stack.

The present disclosure has been made in an effort to provide an energy generation system capable of improving energy generation efficiency.

The present disclosure has also been made in an effort to produce electrical energy on the basis of a potential difference made by a movement and evaporation of water while producing electrical energy on the basis of an electrochemical reaction of fuel.

The present disclosure has also been made in an effort to operate a second energy generation part (produce electrical energy) by using water that is a by-product from a first energy generation part.

The present disclosure has also been made in an effort to minimize a load of a fuel cell stack and improve performance and operational efficiency.

The present disclosure has also been made in an effort to simplify a structure and improve spatial utilization and a degree of design freedom.

The present disclosure has also been made in an effort to efficiently operate a second energy generation part without additionally providing additional devices for operating the second energy generation part (a water supply means for supplying water and an air supply device for supplying high-temperature air).

The present disclosure has also been made in an effort to stably maintain an arrangement state of an energy generation membrane for producing electrical energy and stably maintain an environment for effectively ensuring a movement (movement by capillarity) and evaporation of water supplied to the energy generation membrane.

The goals to be achieved by the embodiments are not limited to the above-mentioned goals, but also include goals or effects that may be understood from the solutions or embodiments described below.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned goals, an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides an energy generation system including: a first energy generation part configured to generate electrical energy on the basis of an electrochemical reaction of a target fluid; and a second energy generation part configured to operate by receiving water discharged from the first energy generation part and generate electrical energy on the basis of a potential difference made by a movement and evaporation of the water.

This is to improve energy generation efficiency, stability, and reliability.

That is, when various electronic devices (e.g., electrical components in vehicles) applied to mobility vehicles and the like need to rapidly operate, it is difficult to efficiently operate various types of electronic devices only by using electrical energy generated by the fuel cell stack, and a load of the fuel cell stack increases.

In contrast, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to produce electrical energy on the basis of a potential difference made by the movement and evaporation of the water while producing electrical energy on the basis of the electrochemical reaction of fuel. Therefore, it is possible to obtain an advantageous effect of further improving the energy generation efficiency, minimizing a load of the first energy generation part (fuel cell stack), and improving the performance and operational efficiency.

In particular, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the water, which is a by-product from the first energy generation part, is supplied to the second energy generation part without additionally providing a separate water supply means for supplying water to the second energy generation part. Therefore, it is possible to obtain an advantageous effect of simplifying the structure and improving the spatial utilization and the degree of design freedom.

The first energy generation part may have various structures capable of generating electrical energy on the basis of the electrochemical reaction of the target fluid.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the first energy generation part may include: a fuel cell stack; an air compressor provided in an air supply line through which air is supplied to the fuel cell stack, the air compressor being configured to compress the air to be supplied to the fuel cell stack; and a humidifier provided in the air supply line and configured to humidify the air to be supplied to the fuel cell stack by using the water discharged from the fuel cell stack.

The water discharged from the fuel cell stack may be supplied to the second energy generation part in various ways in accordance with required conditions and design specifications.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the energy generation system may include: a first connection line configured to connect the humidifier and the second energy generation part, in which the water discharged from the fuel cell stack passes through the humidifier and then is supplied to the second energy generation part along the first connection line.

The second energy generation part may have various structures capable of generating electrical energy on the basis of a potential difference made by the movement and evaporation of the water while operating by receiving the water discharged from the first energy generation part (e.g., the fuel cell stack).

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the second energy generation part may include: a casing part having a casing penetration portion; an energy generation membrane supported in the casing part so as to be exposed to the outside of the casing part through the casing penetration portion and configured to generate electrical energy on the basis of a potential difference between two opposite ends thereof made by the movement and evaporation of the water; an absorptive member provided to penetrate the casing part while being in contact with the energy generation membrane and configured to supply the water to the energy generation membrane; and a housing member provided to surround an entire periphery of the casing part.

As described above, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the energy generation membrane is supported by using the casing part, and the water is supplied to the energy generation membrane by means of the absorptive member. Therefore, it is possible to obtain an advantageous effect of stably maintaining the arrangement state of the energy generation membrane configured to generate electrical energy and stably maintaining the environment for effectively ensuring the movement (movement by capillarity) and evaporation of the water supplied to the energy generation membrane.

In particular, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the casing part may maintain the posture and environment in which the energy generation membrane may generate electrical energy, such that the water may be continuously supplied to the energy generation membrane, and the movement and evaporation of the water supplied to the energy generation membrane may be continuously performed. Therefore, it is possible to continuously implement the generation of electrical energy by the energy generation membrane.

Furthermore, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, an appropriate amount of water, which is required for the energy generation membrane to generate electrical energy, may be stably supplied to the energy generation membrane by supplying the water slowly to the energy generation membrane by means of the absorptive member without supplying the water directly to the energy generation membrane. Therefore, it is possible to obtain an advantageous effect of improving the electrical energy generation efficiency and stability.

The air introduced into the second energy generation part may be heated in various ways in accordance with required conditions and design specifications.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the energy generation system may include: a second connection line having one end disposed between the air compressor and the humidifier and connected to the air supply line, and the other end connected to the second energy generation part, in which a part of the air having passed through the air compressor is supplied to the second energy generation part along the second connection line.

As described above, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the high-temperature air having passed through the air compressor may be supplied to the second energy generation part without additionally providing an air supply device for supplying high-temperature air to the second energy generation part. Therefore, it is possible to obtain an advantageous effect of improving the energy efficiency, simplifying the structure, and improving the spatial utilization and the degree of design freedom.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the energy generation system may include: a temperature sensor provided in the second energy generation part and configured to sense an internal temperature of the second energy generation part; and a humidity sensor provided in the second energy generation part and configured to sense an internal humidity of the second energy generation part, in which the valve selectively opens or closes the second connection line in response to signals detected by the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor.

As described above, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the second connection line is selectively opened or closed on the basis of the internal temperature and the internal humidity of the housing member. Therefore, it is possible to obtain an advantageous effect of optimizing the electrical energy generation condition by the energy generation membrane and improving the electrical energy generation efficiency by the energy generation membrane.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the energy generation system may include: an air flow rate sensor provided in the second connection line and configured to sense a flow rate of air moving along the second connection line; and a controller configured to control an opening ratio of the valve in response to a signal detected by the air flow rate sensor.

As described above, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the opening ratio of the valve is adjusted on the basis of the flow rate of the air moving along the second connection line. Therefore, it is possible to obtain an advantageous effect of further optimizing the electrical energy generation condition of the energy generation membrane and further improving the electrical energy generation efficiency by the energy generation membrane.

The energy generation membrane may have various structures capable of generating electrical energy on the basis of a potential difference between the two opposite ends (two opposite ends of the energy generation membrane) made when the water supplied to one end of the energy generation membrane evaporates while being moved to the other end of the energy generation membrane (moved by capillarity).

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the energy generation membrane may include: a hydrophilic fiber membrane; and a conductive polymer layer applied onto a surface of the hydrophilic fiber membrane.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the casing part may include only a single casing member or be provided by assembling or connecting a plurality of casing members.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the casing part may include: a first casing member configured to support the energy generation membrane; and a second casing member configured to support the energy generation membrane independently of the first casing member, and the absorptive member may be provided to continuously penetrate the first casing member and the second casing member.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the second casing member may be connected in series to an end of the first casing member in a longitudinal direction of the absorptive member.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the energy generation system may include: a guide protrusion provided at one end of the second casing member corresponding to one end of the first casing member; and a guide groove provided at one end of the first casing member and configured to accommodate the guide protrusion.

As described above, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the guide protrusion provided at one end of the second casing member is accommodated in the guide groove provided at one end of the first casing member. Therefore, it is possible to obtain an advantageous effect of suppressing the withdrawal of the second casing from the first casing and more stably maintaining the arrangement state.

The first casing member and the second casing member may have various structures capable of independently supporting the energy generation membrane.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the first casing member and the second casing member may have the same structure.

Because the first casing member and the second casing member have the same structure as described above, the first casing member and the second casing member may be manufactured by using a single manufacturing device in common. Therefore, it is possible to obtain an advantageous effect of simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing the manufacturing costs.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the energy generation system may include: a partition member configured to divide an internal space of the casing part into a first space and a second space, in which the energy generation membrane includes: a first energy generation membrane accommodated in the first space; and a second energy generation membrane accommodated in the second space.

The partition member may have various structures capable of dividing the internal space of the casing part into the first space and the second space.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the partition member may include: a partition body provided in the casing part and spaced apart from an inner surface of the casing part; a first support protrusion provided on one surface of the partition body and supported on the inner surface of the casing part; and a second support protrusion provided on the other surface of the partition body and supported on the inner surface of the casing part.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, an inner surface of the first energy generation membrane and an inner surface of the second energy generation membrane may be tightly attached to the partition member, and an outer surface of the first energy generation membrane and an outer surface of the second energy generation membrane may be tightly attached to an inner surface of the casing part.